Bed-protector apron



May 15, 1956 B. v. WOOD-MINOR 2,745,404

BED-PROTECTOR APRON Filed Aug. 10, 1954 INVENTOR BLANCHE V. WOOD-MINOR M 52 M421, M WT VwL HER ATTORNEYS United States Patent BED-PROTECTOR APRON V Blanche V. Wood-Minor, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application August 10, 1954, Serial No. 448,857

3 Claims. ((11. 128-283) This invention relates to sanitary devices and particularly to a sanitary apron for use by patients who are confined to their beds in hospitals or in the home. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved device of this kind which renders it easier to care for maternity patients and patients suffering from diseases such as colonic or uterine cancer.

When a patient has to lie in bed for an extended period of time the tendency for the development of skin irritation and sores is Well-known as being extremely difficult to deal with or prevent. This is recognized as being aggravated when there. are body discharges which tend to keep the skin moist. In such cases it is customary to employ suitable absorbent pads, for example of fabric, cotton or other cellulosic compositiomand in the interest of cleanliness, it is also customary to use a rubber sheet under the draw sheet. desirable because it is uncomfortable and aggravates the skin irritation. The absorbent pads, in order to be effective, must be properly positioned and, which is equally important, kept in place. Various means have been devised for this purpose but none is satisfactory.

The primary object of the present invention is to alleviate the discomfort of patients by eliminating the necessity for using the rubber sheet.

Another object of the invention is to provide an effective means for holding the absorbent pads in the required position and in such a manner as to prevent their displacement.

Another object of the invention is to reduce or prevent irritation of the skin by rubbing friction against the draw sheet.

Another object of the invention is to render easier the work of the nurse in caring for the patient.

Still another object of the invention is to reduce laundry expense, since it is customary to relaunder the draw sheet, even though it may be only slightly soiled.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention as illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings:

Fig. l is a plan View of my improved sanitary device in fiat condition ready to be placed under a patient; and

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are views showing the device of my invention applied to a human figure or torso, the torso being shown in different positions, Fig. 2 being a side view, Fig. 3 a rear view, and Fig. 4 a view looking from above.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of these drawings, my improved sanitary device comprises a band portion 1 which is constructed and adapted to encircle the body of the patient in the region of the waist, being, however, of substantial width so as in effect to cover the major portion of the abdomen when in position. Extending at right angles from the lower or left-hand edge of the midsection of the band portion 1 there is an apron-like member 2. This member has an upper portion 3 having The use of a rubber sheet is unsubstantially parallel sides 4, and a lower rounded portion 5.

The band portion 1 is made of soft but strong fabric, such for example as white cotton sheeting, and advantageously comprises two layers or thicknesses joined together by a line of stitching 6 extending around its entire periphery. The apron-like portion 2 is of suitable moisture-repellant, and, advantageously, moisture-proof material, such for example as soft, pliable oiled silk or thin plastic sheeting, preferably, but not essentially, transparent. The dimensions of the band portion should be about nine inches wide by about fifty-two inches in length, and the apron-like portion about twenty inches wide and about twenty-eight inches from the top edge to the tip of the rounded end. Following these approximate dimensions and proportions the device can be manufactured in three sizes to fit all human figures.

The upper or parallel sided end portion of the apronlike member 2 is laid upon the inner or upper surface of the band portion 1, with its upper end coincident with the top edge of the band, and permanently secured to the mid-section thereof, as for example by lines of stitching 7 lengthwise of the band portion 8 and crosswise of the band portion. Thus, the water-proof material extends across the band portion 1 from the bottom edge to the top edge.

One end of the band portion 1, for example, the lower end shown in Fig. 1, may be divided as indicated by the dotted lines, to form two long tabs 9 spaced apart from one another by the distance between the dotted lines for a purpose which will later appear.

The entire exposed marginal edge of the-apron-like portion 2 is bound with a strip of bias cut fabric 10 which is stitched along the curved edge of the water-proof material, as shown in Fig. 1. The water-proof material has a degree of stretchability, yieldability or elasticity, and the bias cut binding along the edge also is stretchable to some extent. The presence of this binding facilitates the attachment to the rounded portion 5 of the apronlike portion 2 of a fastening tab 11. If desired, two fastening tabs 11a, indicated by the dotted lines, may be used in place of the single tab 11.

In applying my sanitary device to a patient, the device is slid under the body with the band 1 spread smooth and so placed that the lower back and buttocks reston the apron-like portion 2, as shown in Fig. 2. The two end portions of band 1 are then folded around the waist, overlapped and pinned together with two or more safety pins 12, as shown in Fig. 4. This brings the edge portions of the apron-like member 2 around the sides and onto the front hips, as shown at 13.

Any absorbent pads which are to be used, one such pad 14, being indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, are then placed in position as desired and the fastening tab 11 (or the two tabs 11a) are then passed upwardly between the legs of the patient and the lower tip portion of apron-like portion 2 is drawn between the legs and through the crotch to the front portion of the body, as shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the upper portion of the fastening tab 11 (or tabs 11a) is secured to the band portion 1 by means of one or more safety pins 16 at a point, or points, comfortable to the patient.

In so placing the apron-like portion 2 on the patients body,'the pull of the fastening tab causes the binding 10 to draw the marginal portions of the apron-like member 2 into close engagement with the flesh of the legs and thighs of the patient, causing it to substantially fit the curvature of the patients body. In this way theabsorbent pads, such as the pad 14, as well as the inner surface of the apron-like portion 2, are held in position so that there is little, if any, tendency for either the apron-like portion of the sanitary device, or the absorbent pad, or

' T pads, to shift position on the body with the ordinary movement of the patient in the bed, such as by rolling from side-to-side, turning over, etc.

Consequently, not only are the absorbent pads held in the position desired, but also the shifting of'the sanitary device itself on the body of the patient is prevented. In this way the ordinary motions of the patient do not cause rubbing riction between the body and the surface of the bed, and the undesirable irritation is reduced. The rubhing takes place between the outer surface of the apronlike portion and the bed sheet, and the surface of the patients body is not subjected to such rubbing.

The purpose of providing the two fastening tabs 9 at one end of the band portion 1 is to provide a substantial opening, or aperture, such as indicated at 17 in Fig.

4, between these two tabs 9 on the one hand, and, on the other hand, between the bottom 18 of theslot between these two tabs and the opposite end 19 ofthe band portion 1. In this way provision is made for the application of a colostomy bag or an ileostomy bag, for a patient requiring either of them.

I have found my improved sanitary b ed-protector apron as above-described to be extremely effective, for the purposes indicated. Not only were the patients rendered very much more comfortable because of the entire absence of the indicated sores, but the physical effort required on the part of the nurse in caring for the patient was reduced to a marked extent. Furthermore, the stench which ordinarily permeates the entire house when patients suffering from diseases, such as colonic or uterine cancer,

are taken care of at home, was found to bereduced to such an extent that visitors coming into the sickroom were not aware that the patient was suiferingfrom such adisease. v o It will be understood that changes may be made in the construction of my improved bed-protector apron without departing from the spirit of the invention and that the scope of the invention'is set forth in'the appended claims.

I claim: l. A' sanitary device for adult bed patients comprising a band portion constructed to encircle the body of the patient in the vicinity of the Waist, with the opposite ends secured together to hold said band snugly and smoothly in position, said band being of sufiicient width to cover the greater portion of the abdomen, an apron-like member of moisture-proof material having an upper portion with substantially parallel sides and a rounded lower portion,

said apron-like member being disposed crosswise substantially centrally of said band andpermanently secured thereto, and at least one tab member secured adjacent the bottom edge of said apron-like member, the said apronlike member being constructed and arranged to fold around the buttocks and thighs and through the crotch and to be held in place by removably securing said tab member to said band substantially opposite the mid-section of said hand, one end of said band being bifurcated to provide two spaced fastening. tabs leaving a slot between them-the bottom of which is adjacentone side of said apron-like member so that when the device is placed about the Waist of the patient an opening is left formed by the inner edges'of the sides of these tabs, the bottom of said slot and the opposite. end of said band, for the reception of a colostomy bag or ileostomy bag.

'2. A sanitary device for adult bed patients comprising a band portion of soft fabric constructed to encircle the body of the patient in the vicinity of the waist, with V the opposite ends secured together to holdsaid band snugly and smoothly in position, said band being of sufiicient width to cover the greater portion of the abdomen, an apron-like member of soft flexible moisture-proof material having an'upper portion with substantially parallel sides and a rounded lower portion, said apron-like member being disposed crosswise ,of saidband, said upperportion overlying the mid-section of said band and being permanently secured thereto, and at least one tab member secured adjacent the bottom edge of said apron-like member, the said apron-like member'being constructed and arranged to fold around the buttocks andthighs'and through the crotch and to be held in place by removably securing saidtab member to said band substantially opposite the mid-section of said band, the tension of said tab member causing said'parallel side edges and rounded,

. bottom of which is adjacent one side of the apron-like member so'that when the device is. placed about the waist of the patient an opening is left formed by the inner edges of the sides of these tabs, the bottom of said 'slot and the opposite end of said band portion, for the reception of a colostomy bag or ileostomy bag,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS j 1,721,343 Hoover -July 16, 19.29

- FOREIGN PATENTS V France Jan, 5, 1929 

